Night Market fun in Vietnam
The Night Market fun in Vietnam shine with light, color and fun, drawing people together. Hot An and Hanoi are just two fantastic Asian cities that have built Night Markets environments, mostly catering to tourists but are also a draw for families with kids, teens, and elders too. Light and color are the most common elements in both these successful marketplaces.I just had the lucky fortune to visits Vietnam, traveling from the Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) south to Hanoi in the north. This country has many first-world countries beat in how well they treat customers, guests and tourists too! Night markets are common in hot equatorial regions because it's often the most comfortable temperature of the day. They focus on the natural environment, using bodies of water, hillsides, large buildings or roadways that are barriers then set up a welcoming space, using light to frame or define the area.Street vendors are a main focal point but what's in front of the vendors is what's even more important. Night Market fun encourages kids (of all ages) to play around the booths. Interactive toys, light art or music is common surrounding all the booth areas. Hanging lanterns, twinkly lights and now LEDs are easily spotted in the mix. Color is key! Lots of color.People unashamedly spend the time watching each other, dancers twirl, kids play tag with parents, teens are just as common as adults and not everyone is talking or looking at their phones, though our cell phones were our best translator time and time again. Pets are rarely seen. Activities included: pedi cab rides, lantern candle boats, yo-yos, ball, hacky-sac, tops, whirligigs, hula hoops and lighted flying copters were constantly in motion. Music played from every corner, rarely loud, usually catchy. Some musicians sat in window-framed storefronts, drawing people their way. Costumed characters were seen wandering, shaking hands and posing for pictures.A lot of fun happened at the Night Markets in Vietnam. Many of the touristy items were sold over and over so they seemed less interesting but rare jewels were to be found!Stay: Hoi An Garden Villa • Visit: Vietnam Museum of Ethnology in Hanoi
